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It is likely that it is functional in the sense that air can flow through it. So is it a functional vent, yes. Does it have a cooling function on the car, probably something minimal that could have been done without.

It is functional, most likely. Is it superfluous, definitely.

yea, i was looking at teh close up pics on f30post and it does look functional

Hope the Bang & Olufsen is an option on this series, increase in model cost of $5k and $4k would make it a pricey car but would be nice and one I would consider for sure, may even make me want to let go of the E46 which is best design IMO thus far except for the current 5 and 6 series.

Since its a different model, hopefully the front will look more like the 6 than the current 3-series sedan (headlights), except for headlights on current 3-series, perfect car IMO

Hope the Bang & Olufsen is an option on this series, increase in model cost of $5k and $4k would make it a pricey car but would be nice and one I would consider for sure, may even make me want to let go of the E46 which is best design IMO thus far except for the current 5 and 6 series.

Since its a different model, hopefully the front will look more like the 6 than the current 3-series sedan (headlights), except for headlights on current 3-series, perfect car IMO

B&O is so overpriced for what it is. It's not $3,000 better than the HK system. It's not even $1,000 better.

I would expect a 5k+ difference in the 3 and 4 series but to say the 4 series is cheaper to make with two less doors is probably not true. The true cost of the 4 series per unit is probably higher then the 3 series as they sell considerably less coupes then sedans.

They may sell less coupes than sedans, but they probably sell enough of them over the 5+ year product cycle to make the cost difference (whatever it truly is we don't know) negligible.

Just did a bit of research and BMW sells 3x more Sedan's than Coupe's. Not surprising.

Both the Sedan and Coupe have the same lifespan and they both occupy the same amount of production space, production equipment, personnel, etc.

Since the Sedan facility is pumping out 3x the amount of Sedan's of the Coupe facility, stands to reason that it is 3x more productive and therefore substantially less expensive to operate per vehicle produced.

It's the biggest reason the Coupe is more expensive than the Sedan. It's not features, it's not raw materials. It's production inequality.

Just did a bit of research and BMW sells 3x more Sedan's than Coupe's. Not surprising.

Both the Sedan and Coupe have the same lifespan and they both occupy the same amount of production space, production equipment, personnel, etc.

Since the Sedan facility is pumping out 3x the amount of Sedan's of the Coupe facility, stands to reason that it is 3x more productive and therefore substantially less expensive to operate per vehicle produced.

It's the biggest reason the Coupe is more expensive than the Sedan. It's not features, it's not raw materials. It's production inequality.

Just did a bit of research and BMW sells 3x more Sedan's than Coupe's. Not surprising.

Both the Sedan and Coupe have the same lifespan and they both occupy the same amount of production space, production equipment, personnel, etc.

Since the Sedan facility is pumping out 3x the amount of Sedan's of the Coupe facility, stands to reason that it is 3x more productive and therefore substantially less expensive to operate per vehicle produced.

It's the biggest reason the Coupe is more expensive than the Sedan. It's not features, it's not raw materials. It's production inequality.

BJ

I'll stand by what I said because I understand amortization from my extensive business experience.

I'll stand by what I said because I understand amortization from my extensive business experience.

Right, and the rest of the 48 year old corporate directors and VP's in this forum don't?

The question asked was why the Coupe costs more than the Sedan. No one said the Coupe loses money, just that the Sedan will always make more. When you have two identical products and one outsells the other 3:1 the production efficiencies allow the more popular version to sell at a lower price.

BMW isn't being greedy. From their perspective, every Coupe sale could have been a Sedan sale, have to keep the margins consistent.

Right, and the rest of the 48 year old corporate directors and VP's in this forum don't?

The question asked was why the Coupe costs more than the Sedan. No one said the Coupe loses money, just that the Sedan will always make more. When you have two identical products and one outsells the other 3:1 the production efficiencies allow the more popular version to sell at a lower price.

BMW isn't being greedy. From their perspective, every Coupe sale could have been a Sedan sale, have to keep the margins consistent.
BJ

Do you work for BMW in a capacity that would enable you to know what the cost differences and profit margins are in producing a sedan versus a coupe?

An even better answer for why they'll charge more for it is "Because they can." If their research suggested market wouldn't accept a $5k markup for the coupe they'd either not make the coupe, or price it closer to the sedan.

An even better answer for why they'll charge more for it is "Because they can." If their research suggested market wouldn't accept a $5k markup for the coupe they'd either not make the coupe, or price it closer to the sedan.